New tasmac shop closed after opposition from women residents

Tirupur: Protest and counter-protest have marked opening of a Tasmac shop at Perumampalayam near Samalapuram in the district. The shop was temporarily closed after the protest from women.

A group of woman on Friday staged a road blockade at Perumampalayam against the Tasmac shop after its inauguration. The Tasmac authorities and police officials involved in talk with the protesters and promised to look into it. “Though salesmen of the shop closed it quickly after lack of stock of liquor, many women staged a road blockade demanding to remove the shop,” a police officer said. The protesters said people would have to pass through the new Tasmac shop to buy ration goods and to visit temples.

On Saturday, around 30 men staged a protest in front of the shop, complaining that they have to travel more than three kilometres to buy liquor, and it was unfair to close down the new shop.

However, the woman group warned that they would launch a indefinite hunger strike, if the shop was opened again. They claimed that men were brought from neighbouring villages to protest with a hidden agenda.

A revenue official said, “Since women were opposing the shop strongly, we are considering removing the shop.” tnn